Oregon Public Charter Schools

Oregon Department of Education

August 2007

Presentation will include:

Brief overview of Oregon Charter Schools State Board Sponsored Charter Schools When online instruction and charter

schools collide Definition of issues and policy discussion

Charter Schools - National Overview

41 States with charter school laws State charter school laws vary widely Federal support

• Large Federal Charter School Grant Program• Increasing degree of accountability and regulatory oversight

Statewide Charter School Context

80 schools in operation Approximately 10,000 students Variety of special focus and grade

configurations Two SBE sponsored charter schools

Charter Schools – Intent of Law

To take “responsible risks to create new, innovative and flexible ways of educating children within the public school system.”

“To serve as models and catalysts for the improvement of other public schools.”

Charter Schools – Intent of Law Increase student learning and achievement; Increase choices of learning opportunities for students; Better meet individual student academic needs and interests; Build stronger working relationships among educators, parents

and other community members; Encourage the use of different and innovative learning

methods; Provide opportunities in small learning environments for

flexibility and innovation, which may be applied, if proven effective, to other public schools;

Create new professional opportunities for teachers; Establish additional forms of accountability for schools; and Create innovative measurement tools.

Public charter schools/traditional public schools

SimilarOpen to all studentsNon-selectiveCertain laws must be followed (Civil rights, IDEA, due process, open meetings, etc.)Per pupil funding formula

DifferentCreated by application/proposalSchools of choice (staff and students)Operates pursuant to performance agreement (charter)Evaluated on outcomes written in charter

AccountabilityExternal AYP School Report Card Annual Reports and Audits Charter School Evaluation Annual Grant Performance ReportInternal Schools of choice-Must deliver product and be true to

mission statement Charter School Board of Directors and broader

community

Charter Schools ODE Perspective

Charter School Law is working Districts, working with community

members, are using charter schools as one strategy for providing school choice

Tension between highly flexible and autonomous charter school law and more rigid NCLB

Value of rigorous evaluation process

Issues and Challenges Roles and responsibilities of sponsors

(within the context of diminishing resources)

Definition of “value” in relationship to “adverse impact”

Readiness of charter school operators Facilities and Funding State Board Sponsorship

SBE Sponsorship Necessary to qualify for Public Charter School Grant Allows for quality educational opportunities to exist Perceived challenge to local district’s decision to deny The optimal relationship is for a charter school to be

sponsored by district in which they are located SBE/ODE is not set up to perform role of charter school

sponsor• State School Funding• Accountability• Staffing

State Board SponsorshipAppeal Process Procedural or Substantive review? Set criteria, based on ORS 338.045 and 055 Substantive review of application

• Same application as reviewed by local district Recommendation to Superintendent to sponsor or deny Recommendation by Superintendent to SBE-First Read Action Taken at next SBE meeting

Policy/procedural question• Continue with substantive review?• At what point, if any, should the applicants and the

local school district address the SBE?

Online InstructionDifferent types (district/ESD/Oregon Virtual School District)Based on fee per courseAll teachers licensed and highly qualifiedResident district must approve

Online Charter SchoolsMust provide comprehensive educational programBased on % of ADMwAll teachers licensed or registered and highly qualifiedIf there is space available, any student in the state may attendFifty percent in-district requirement

Virtual Instruction in Oregon

Virtual Charter Schools The National Context

Policies from other states

Lessons learned in this fast-changing frontier

Virtual Charter Schools in Oregon-The Current Status

Oregon Connections Academy (Scio School District) serves approximately 1500 students residing through out the state.

ORCA is operating outside of the requirement that at least 50% of charter school enrollment reside in the sponsoring district (until 2010).

Several other virtual education providers are interested in contracting with public charter schools in Oregon.

State Board may waive this requirement.

Broad Policy Considerations for Oregon

What role does the State Board play in the approval and oversight of virtual charter school?

• Case-by-case waivers• Statewide charter=state approval and sponsorship

Board Policy Considerations

Should online schools be funded at the same level as bricks-and-mortar school?

To what degree should there be financial ‘transparency’ and accountability between the charter school and the for-profit that is providing the educational services?

Board Policy Considerations

Should sending districts have any control over whether its students can leave the district to attend a virtual charter school ?

Is there adequate transparency if an online charter school board contracts with a private entity, one that is not subject to public record laws?